Molded rubber gauntlet



United States Patent Oiiice 2,722,687 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 MOLDED RUBBER GAUNrLEr William H. Nelson, Berlin, Wis., assignor to Universal Leather Company, Berlin, Wis., a corporation of `Wiscousin Application July 30, 1954, Serial No. 446,838 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-168) This invention relates to a molded rubber gauntlet having highly advantageous protective and insulating qualities.

When working in conjunction with power lines and cables, high voltage electrical apparatus, and the like, it is highly important that the hands of vthe worlnnan be fully protected by suitable insulative gloves or the like. It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide an electrically insulative and protective gauntlet that employs a novel construction so as to provide increased durability and strength while not decreasing the effective exibility of the gauntlet which enables the workman to adequate perform his tasks.

The construction of this invention features a molded rubber gauntlet having a finger portion attached to a cuff portion. The cuff portion is strengthened by suitable spaced parallel ribs which run substantially parallel to each other and to thc actual axis of the hand or arm of the workman, thereby permitting the ribs to provide added protection to the gauntlet while not adversely affecting the flexibility of the glove as may be necessary to ensure a proper fit.

The particular advantage of the utilization of the ribs which extend perpendicular to the beaded peripheral edge of the gauntlet and also extend substantially parallel to the axis of the workmans arm lies in the fact that the ribs make the gloves substantially rigid perpendicular to the direction taken by the ribs which prevents the gauntlet from drooping. However, the ribs do not adversely affect the opening and closing of the gauntlet and, in fact, tend to hold the cufI portion of the gauntlet in a semi-open position, thereby enabling the lineman or other workman to readily insert his hand therein.

Still further objects and features of the invention reside in the provision of a molded rubber gauntlet that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being manufactured at a relatively low cost so as to enable wide distribution, and which is effective in its protective uses.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this molded rubber gauntlet, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the gauntlet and glove comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 2-2 in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure l.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral generally indicates the gauntlet and glove comprising the present invention which includes a finger portion 12 of a configuration conforming to the convolutions of the fingers of a human hand. The finger portion 12 is preferably formed of leather. The gauntlet 10 includes a cuff portion 14 molded from rubber with no interior fabric lining or reinforcing and formed with spaced sides 16 and 18 integrally interconnected by ends 20 and 22.

Integrally formed with the sides 16 and 18 are a plurality of ribs, as at 24 and 26, which extend substantially parallel with each other in spaced relationship. The ribs are substantially square in cross-section and have beveled edges, as at 28 and 30 extending the length of the ribs 24 and 26. The beveled edges 28 and 30 are provided to both decrease the weight of the gauntlet while also permitting a more pleasing finished product to be produced. The end portions 20 and 22 have no ribs formed thereon so that the ends 20 and 22 remain comparatively iiexible relative to the sides 16 and 18. The ribs 24 and 26 substantially rigidify the sides 16 and 18 in a direction perpendicular to the ribs 24 and 26, yet permit good flexibility in a direction substantially parallel to the ribs 24 and 26. The rigidiiication by the ribs 24 and 26 therefore prevents the cuff portion 14 of the gauntlet from folding down if the cuff portion were to be snagged. Such folding down may adversely affect the safety of a lineman or other workman working on high voltage apparatus since such action would result in exposure of the light rubber inner glove worn by the lineman. However, the end portions 20 and 22 are sufficiently exible so as to enable the workman to readily insert his hand within the gauntlet 10, the ribs 24 and 26 causing the unexpected result of the cuff portion 14 being maintained in a semi-open state.

The cuff portion 14 is provided with a beaded peripheral edge, as at 32, and may be provided with a space 34 on which the manufacturer of the gauntlet 10 may be properly identified. The ribs 24 would terminate short of the space 34, as can be best seen in Figure 1. A substantially U-shaped insert 36 is sewed to the cuff portion 14 at the portion of the gauntlet subjected to greatest wear thus protecting stitching 38 holding the finger portion 12 to cuff portion 14. The insert 36 is folded over the upper edge of the cuff portion. The ribs are higher as they extend toward the palm of the glove thus protecting stitching 40 used to attach the insert 36 to the gauntlet.

Since from the foregoing, the construction and advantages of this molded rubber gauntlet are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modications and equivalents may be readily resorted to.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A protective molded rubber gauntlet comprising a linger portion and a culf portion, stitching securing said finger portion to said cu portion, said cuff portion having opposed sides interconnected by spaced end pieces, said sides having a plurality of ribs integrally formed therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, said cuff portion having a beaded peripheral edge, said ribs extending normal to said peripheral edge and said finger portion, said ribs extending in a spaced parallel relationship relative to each other, and an insert having a part overlying said cuff portion, said finger portion being secured to said cuff portion and underlying a part of said insert, said insert being substantially U-shaped in cross-section overlying and protecting said stitching, said ribs being tapered and protecting the stitching attaching said insert to said cuff portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,762,865 Heinrich June l0, 1930 2,018,442 Elkus Oct. 22, 1935 2,229,837 Clalfy Ian. 28, 1941 2,357,574 Beebe Sept. 5, 1944 

